---
name: "ntp-ctl"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "ntpd-rs"
version: "1.9.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ntp-ctl/8"
---

# ntp-ctl(8)

management client for the ntpd-rs ntp-daemon process

## NAME

ntp-ctl - management client for the ntpd-rs ntp-daemon process

## SYNOPSIS

ntp-ctl validate \[-c *path*\]

ntp-ctl status \[-f *format*\] \[-c *path*\]

ntp-ctl force-sync \[-c *path*\]

ntp-ctl -h

ntp-ctl -v

## DESCRIPTION

The ntp-ctl management client allows management of some aspects of the ntpd-rs daemon. Currently the management client only allows displaying the current status of the daemon and validating a configuration file for usage with the daemon.

## OPTIONS

- \-c *path*, --config=*path*

  Path to the configuration file from which the observation socket address will be retrieved. If not specified this defaults to /etc/ntpd-rs/ntp.toml.

- \-f *format*, --format=*format*

  The output format for the status command. If not specified this defaults to *plain*. Alternatively the format *prometheus* is available to display the output in an OpenMetrics/Prometheus compatible format.

- \-h, --help

  Display usage instructions.

- \-v, --version

  Display version information.

## COMMANDS

- validate

  Checks if the configuration specified (or /etc/ntpd-rs/ntp.toml by default) is valid.

- status

  Returns status information about the current state of the ntp-daemon that the client connects to.

- force-sync

  Interactively run a single synchronization of your clock. This command can be used to do a one-off synchronization to the time sources configured in your configuration file. This command should never be used without any validation by a human operator.

## SEE ALSO

[ntp-daemon(8)](/ntp-daemon/8.md), [ntp-metrics-exporter(8)](/ntp-metrics-exporter/8.md), [ntp.toml(5)](/ntp.toml/5.md)